Category Archives: Politics

Where’s the Recession?

Financial FAQs The most recent Harris-Guardian poll found 56 percent of those surveyed thought the US was in a recession. And 49 percent believed unemployment was at a 50-year high. How is that possible when the economic facts are exactly … Continue reading →

Posted in Consumers, COVID-19, Economy, Politics, Weekly Financial News | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

What Should Fed Do–Part II?

Popular Economics Weekly Friday’s ‘official’ April US unemployment report was even more surprising than Fed Chairman Powell’s dovish remarks after the Fed’s May FOMC meeting, as if Powell might have known that April’s unemployment report would be weaker. It was, … Continue reading →

Posted in Consumers, COVID-19, Economy, Politics, Weekly Financial News | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

What Should the Fed Do?

Popular Economics Weekly The big surprise at Federal Reserve Chairman Powell’s last press conference was despite strong job numbers and inflation still above the Fed’s 2 percent target rate, the Fed governors are acting more dovish. Why? They don’t want … Continue reading →

Posted in Consumers, COVID-19, Economy, Politics, Weekly Financial News | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Elevated Rates Endangering Economy

Financial FAQs Early predictions show first quarter economic growth picking up, but a little-known indicator of future growth, the Conference Board’s Index of Leading Economic Indicators (LEI) in March highlighted the danger that high interest rates hold for future growth. … Continue reading →

Posted in Consumers, COVID-19, Economy, Housing, housing market, Politics | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Inflation Still Declining

Popular Economics Weekly The inflation rate for wholesale goods and services (PPI) is still declining, which will hearten the inflation doves after yesterday’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) seems to be stuck in a 3 percent range. So, the Fed has … Continue reading →

Posted in Consumers, COVID-19, Economy, Keynesian economics, Politics, Weekly Financial News | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Return of the Bully Mentality

The Mortgage Corner The NYTimes Bret Stephens lamented the “bullying mentality” at the heart of the pro-Hamas movement in a recent Op-ed that lamented their attempts to shut down pro-Israeli speakers. Hamas is a movement that wants to completely eliminate … Continue reading →

Posted in Consumers, COVID-19, Economy, Politics, Weekly Financial News | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Too Much Irrational Exuberance?

Popular Economics Weekly Are Wall Street investors irrationality exuberant? Former Bond King and CEO of the PIMCO bond fund Bill Gross thinks so. Irrational exuberance is a term coined by former Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan in 1996 to describe the … Continue reading →

Posted in Consumers, COVID-19, Economy, Politics, Weekly Financial News | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Consumers Want More Stability

The Mortgage Corner More consumers, and most Americans, are deciding they want calm after the instability of the Pandemic era. They are craving fewer economic disruptions for starters, such as the partisan wars that have stymied budget negotiations. “Nearly three-quarters … Continue reading →

Posted in Consumers, COVID-19, Economy, Housing, housing market, Politics, Weekly Financial News | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Higher Growth Ahead?

Financial FAQs The US economy hasn’t slowed. Fourth quarter Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth was down slightly from 3.3 percent to 3.2 percent in the second estimate, but predictions for first quarter 2024 growth have increased. BEAgdp “The increase in … Continue reading →

Posted in Consumers, COVID-19, Economy, Politics, Weekly Financial News | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Global Connections TV Interview

Answering Kennedy’s Call Here is Global Connections Television interview about Building Community: Answering Kennedy’s Call, a memoir of my years of public service. Global Connections Television (GCTV), the only talk show of its type in the world, has featured a myriad of … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment